Magothy River Rockfish, Sat 9/17

[Magothyman]

Launched at neighborhood launch at 8:45 am this morning with a low tide just starting to move. Perfectly calm water with no wind and no boats. Trolled and cast a rattletrap and a 5” green paddle tail on a red jig head around the docks for awhile and then went out to the channel marker. About 9:45 am landed a 24” fat rockfish after a nice fight. Landed two more in the next 15 minutes (14” and 17”) and headed in. The big one goes on the grill tonight. Water temp was 77 degrees, depth was 6 feet dropping to 15 feet on the ledge where I caught them. Hoping for more of the same in the next several weeks!
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[J. Rentch]

Hopefully this cool down will last so the fish will come into the rivers/creeks.

[J.A. Veil]

Good work. I recall in October 2015 when Spriggs Farm park first opened that I trolled in the Magothy near the park and caught many stripers. I hope the bite is good this fall.

[Jigsup]

Nice catch! Perfect size for the grill.

[Mark]

Good for you. With the water temperature dropping, I'm certain you will have more of the same.

Unfortunately, I couldn't join him yesterday afternoon, but my son also had a good Magothy outing from his kayak. He caught two stripers, a mess of white perch and a pickerel.

He caught a couple of Magothy stripers on Thursday evening too. The fall shallow water striper bite appears to be starting.

However, he did tell me of a fish kill in Cockey Creek. No obvious reason. He saw no red tide.

[dsaavedra]

Nice fish - it's been a while since I've seen a 24" rock. Thanks for the report, hope you had a good meal

[Mark]

Nice fish - it's been a while since I've seen a 24" rock. Thanks for the report, hope you had a good meal

Here's one...

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My son and I were perch fishing in the Magothy yesterday from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the main river just south of Cockey Creek. My son caught the striper above on a perch spinner tight to shore. He released it.

I wish I could tell you that I added to his catch. I caught only two white perch. He caught two white perch plus the striper.

So the fishing was not stellar. The tide was low and the ample boat traffic created many wakes that made for a bouncy session on the water.

[Magothyman]

Mark—I went out yesterday, too. Put in at 5:45 pm and had a 17” in yak with 5 minutes (near some docks).

[Mark]

Mark—I went out yesterday, too. Put in at 5:45 pm and had a 17” in yak with 5 minutes (near some docks).

Good for you.

Striper fishing will only improve in the Magothy and other nearby rivers and creeks in the coming weeks. I saw many schools of striper candy (bunker) peppering the surface.

Also, I heard one excited guy on my VHF radio say he was marking a lot of fish on his electronics but they wouldn't bite. He said he was going to "wait them out". I didn't know his location, of course, nor his method of fishing.

[DuffDynasty]

I went out on Saturday as well on the Magothy. Yak was wet by 630. Managed to catch (1) 25" striper on a 6" chartruese twister tail / jig head combo. The fish seem to be higher in the water column now with the water temp starting to drop. The fish seem to hang between 6-10 feet in the water column. I'm also dragging lures in 14-16 feet water depth favoring the mouth portion of the river.

Haven't viewed too many breaking stripers but the "happy" baitfish have been on the surface all Summer. Would love to see the top water action pick up.

Also noticed that I have had several taps/knock downs by bluefish. Telltale sign ----- twister tail missing.

Let's hope the bite continues to improve over the next couple of weeks.

Tight lines and stay safe!

[dsaavedra]

I went out on Saturday as well on the Magothy. Yak was wet by 630. Managed to catch (1) 25" striper on a 6" chartruese twister tail / jig head combo. The fish seem to be higher in the water column now with the water temp starting to drop. The fish seem to hang between 6-10 feet in the water column. I'm also dragging lures in 14-16 feet water depth favoring the mouth portion of the river.

Haven't viewed too many breaking stripers but the "happy" baitfish have been on the surface all Summer. Would love to see the top water action pick up.

Also noticed that I have had several taps/knock downs by bluefish. Telltale sign ----- twister tail missing.

Let's hope the bite continues to improve over the next couple of weeks.

Tight lines and stay safe!

Great report, 25" is a quality fish. Cooling temps can't come soon enough!